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Suicide attempts associated with externalizing psychopathology in an epidemiological sample
Edelyn Verona1, Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, Thomas E Joiner
1Department of Psychology, Kent State University, OH 44242, USA. everona@kent.edu
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|March 3, 2004
Summary
Externalizing psychopathology symptoms predict suicidal behavior in men and women. Comorbidity of internalizing and externalizing symptoms is particularly linked to suicide attempts in women.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dimensional models of psychopathology offer new insights into mental health disorders.
- Internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety) and externalizing (e.g., antisocial personality, substance dependence) disorders represent key dimensions.
- Understanding the interplay of these dimensions is crucial for predicting suicidal behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the shared variance between internalizing and externalizing psychopathology dimensions in predicting suicidal behaviors.
- To examine gender differences in the risk for suicide attempts associated with these psychopathology dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Colorado Social Health Survey (N=4,745).
- Conducted factor analysis on symptom counts to identify internalizing and externalizing dimensions.
- Employed hierarchical logistic regression to predict suicide attempts based on psychopathology dimensions and comorbidity.
Main Results:
- Externalizing symptoms significantly predicted suicidal behavior in both men and women, even after controlling for internalizing symptoms.
- Comorbidity of internalizing and externalizing symptoms was a stronger predictor of suicide attempts in women compared to men.
Conclusions:
- Externalizing symptoms can independently predict suicidal behavior, not solely due to comorbid internalizing disorders.
- Individuals with externalizing behaviors require thorough assessment for suicidal ideation and behavior.